International Warehouse Logistics Association President and CEO Steve DeHaan said the group is urging Congress to facilitate the creation of a system that better aligns the design of the nation’s infrastructure with the demands of today’s economy.

More than 50 top executives sent a letter to Vice President-elect Pence inviting the Trump administration to work with them to help fill vacancies at the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and select candidates that are “committed to eliminating outdated rules and overly bureaucratic procedures.”

Congress acted last week to ensure the 34-hour restart would remain a tool for truckers to use to manage their weekly on-duty time, but the future of the 34-hour restart and truckers’ ability to use it without restrictions still aren’t permanently set.

A final rule was issued last week by the Surface Transportation Board, which will require all Class I railroads, as well as the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office, through its Class I members, to report certain service performance metrics to the STB on a weekly, semiannual, and occasional basis​

A federal judge in Texas has issued a permanent injunction blocking an Obama administration “persuader rule” requiring law firms to publicly disclose any work they do for employers surrounding union organization efforts.

The first major compliance dates have arrived for the preventive controls rules for human and animal food under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Some members of the food industry have expressed concern and uncertainty about enforcement measures that may accompany September 19, 2016.

The International Warehouse Logistics Association, the resource for warehouse logistics, has filed suit alongside a coalition of trade associations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in opposition of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime rule.

With 162 nations around the globe adopting the new SOLAS rules, the world’s shippers and logistics providers are wondering if each of those nations is using the same approach to VGM. The answer is “no,” according to Andrea Morreira, international logistics manager at Orchard Supply Hardware.

A new report from the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has argued that the Postal Service “could better retain or even grow” its current package delivery business by taking steps to expand its logistics offerings.

United Parcel Service Inc. Chief Executive David Abney is pushing for Congress to pass a new Asian trade agreement by the end of the year, saying that if the U.S. doesn’t act now it will be left in the dust.

The 2016 presidential campaign has dealt a potentially lethal blow to President Barack Obama’s signature Pacific trade agreement, with the chances of congressional passage now looking slim either after the election or under the next administration.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told a Senate panel last week that two years is the same timeline the industry can expect to see the so-called “CSA scores” — the percentile rankings in the CSA Safety Measurement System’s seven BASICs — return to public view.

The International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) does not support the U.S. Department of Labor’s harmful changes to the “overtime rule” that alters the overtime pay requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In fact, IWLA predicts this rule will not only hurt job growth, but stifle the industry from the very thing that sets warehousing apart from other industries: upward mobility.

A coalition of major carriers has come out firmly opposed to language put forth by the Senate Appropriations Committee to fix earlier legislative wording that muddied the future status of the 34-hour restart provision of the Hours of Service rule.

The Department of Commerce this week deepened its bench of public and private sector supply chain, logistics, and freight transportation heavy hitters, announcing it has added 11 new members to its Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSSC).

The U.S. House is expected to vote this week on an overhaul of the nation’s main freight rail regulator, including changes aimed at clearing up a backlog of complaints brought by shippers against railroads.

Metropolitan Chicago, which considers itself the nation's transportation center, appears to be a big winner in the new five-year surface-transportation funding bill agreed on yesterday by congressional negotiators. Union Station in particular is potentially in line for up to $1 billion in improvements.​

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced its US$6.5 billion 2016 budget, which aims to fund critical state-of-good-repair to existing transportation facilities and new infrastructure that is needed to sustain and accelerate growth, including a $175 million investment in port infrastructure.​

The TPP includes policies on the reduction of trade barriers, investments, labor, and intellectual property. I will focus this article on policies related to the reduction of trade barriers and the development of international supply chains, leaving the other topics for future discussions.

Americans are all too familiar with roadblocks – from potholes and road closures to “expect delays” signs and detours. Studies show that nearly two-thirds of our nation’s roads are in unsatisfactory condition, and at least a quarter of America’s bridges must be replaced. In fact, a report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute converts these problems into costs, finding that Americans lose approximately $121 billion each year to traffic, fuel and lost producti

Dozens of lawmakers are withholding their support for fast-track legislation ahead of a possible Thursday vote in the House — but their votes could be in play for the right deal. Last-second bargains have a long history in tight trade votes, and longtime antagonists in Washington’s trade wars say they’d be surprised if some deals aren’t made on the floor, maybe even while the final votes are being cast.

The Obama administration is planning a series of actions this summer to rein in greenhouse-gas emissions from wide swaths of the economy, including trucks, airplanes and power plants, kicking into high gear an ambitious climate agenda that the president sees as key to his legacy.

A Wharton soft drink maker and two other companies were cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration over noise and safety hazards at the manufacturer's production warehouse, OSHA said Tuesday.

Last week, OSHA cited a manufacturer for 15 violations of agency standards at its warehouse, including three repeat violations for lockout/tagout issues. Keep reading for potentially life-saving reminders about your responsibilities plus tips for protection.

When the United States House of Representatives last week voted extend current law and authorizes surface transportation programs through the end of July by a steep margin, it was widely expected that the United States Senate and follow their lead. That is exactly what happened on Friday, May 22, with the measures headed to President Obama to be signed into law.

Members of the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA), the resource for warehouse logistics, know firsthand the impact of Congress’s inability to fund a failing U.S. infrastructure system: Lack of action creates unnecessary congestion and bottlenecks. A failing infrastructure also drains the economy.

There is good news coming out of Washington (for a change), just before the Easter holiday. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved S. 808 “Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015”. Sponsored by Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla), the bill will make substantial changes to the STB which should be good news for rail (intermodal) shippers.​

If the leadership of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union is going to convince the union rank and file that the tentative contract agreement is a good deal for the general membership, the officers will have to fend off a concerted effort by militant members and retired members of the ILWU to jettison the deal.

American Trucking Associations and nearly 40 other trade groups and businesses have sent a letter calling on Congress to pass a long-term transportation bill while opposing any move toward devolution.​

(Bloomberg) -- The House Ways and Means Committee plans to vote next week on a bill to repeal the U.S. estate tax, said Doug Andres, a spokesman for committee chairman Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican.

The American Trucking Associations says companies need to hire 100,000 drivers a year over the next 10 years to keep up with industry growth."Everybody's always looking for drivers. it's a higher turnover industry," said Aaron Nawrot, a truck driver.

The latest plan in Congress to cut business tax rates faces a major obstacle: U.S. businesses. Many Democrats and Republicans, including new House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, agree that they will try to reduce the 35 percent corporate tax rate and curb business tax breaks to help pay for it. They’ll leave individual rates alone to avoid a politically charged fight.

Too often in our ever more polarized world, any announcement is followed by an immediate response from someone denouncing the original position. Such actions can leave one a bit cynical about the entire process and wondering how business groups and government agencies can ever work together on anything.

There’s trouble a-brewin’ in Santa’s supply chain. The choke point is the ports of the west coast, two of which — Los Angeles and Long Beach — move 40 percent of all containerized goods that enter the United States. The National Retail Federation, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Chamber of Commerce claim that West Coast dockworkers are disrupting a holiday shopping season that’s already well underway.

Truck safety advocates say 80 percent of people surveyed would feel less safe on the roads if semi-truck drivers are allowed to drive longer hours, including when they are tired and drowsy. The release of the survey comes as Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is pushing for truckers to be allowed to drive longer hours.

The undersigned organizations, representing a wide variety of interests that rely on the
safe and efficient movement of people and goods across America’s borders, write to emphasize the importance of adequate funding to ensure appropriate U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) staffing at U.S. ports of entry.

As regulations as legislation continue to shape how the supply chain works – and how warehouse logistics organizations serve their clients, members of the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) are descending upon Washington, D.C., Sept. 17-19, for the 2014 IWLA Legislative Fly-in.

We, the undersigned organizations would like to express our support for H.R. 4007, the CFATS Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014 and urge the House Committee on Homeland Security to quickly consider and pass the bill. H.R. 4007 is a streamlined bill that provides a three year authorization of the Chemical Facility Anti Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program and guidance to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on key issues of chemical facility security.

The undersigned represent millions of employers who employ many millions of employees throughout the United States. Nearly all of the undersigned submitted comments to the Office of Labor-Management Standards (“OLMS”) during the comment period following the DOL’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) in the summer of 2011 requesting that the proposed persuader rule be withdrawn. We reiterate that position now, but write to highlight additional issues.

The International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) applauds Congress and President Barack Obama for passing and signing the Drug Quality and Security Act, Public Law 113-54. This new law contains important provisions for tracing pharmaceuticals in the supply chain.

IWLA member companies are warehouse-based third party logistics (3PL) providers that act as distribution centers for their customers. They offer warehousing; inventory and
supply chain management capabilities; and a broad range of value-added services. A significant number of IWLA members operate food-grade warehouse facilities for the
storage, handling and distribution of food products for manufacturers, processors and
distributors.

The International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) is pleased to submit the following comments in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Proposed Rule entitled “Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food” published on January 16, 2013 (78 FR 3646).

Remarkable progress was made in 2012 through Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st
Century (MAP-21) to reform and streamline the federal highway and transit programs while
providing stable funding through fiscal year 2014. Unfortunately, MAP-21 did not provide for the long-term financial stability of the HTF.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently made a significant
change to the regulations governing commercial drivers, known as Hours of Service. FMCSA issued new rules in 2011 that went into effect in July 2013. Specifically, the provision known as the “34-hour restart” is one of several new restrictions placed on the time truck drivers can be on duty and behind the wheel.​

As Congress confronts the challenge of reforming the tax code to make American
businesses more competitive, the undersigned organizations representing thousands
of S corporations, partnerships and sole proprietorships offer the following three
principles to help guide your efforts.

Thank you for inviting me to testify today. I represent the members of the International Warehouse Logistics Association and serve on the organization’s executive committee. IWLA is the only trade association for warehouse-based third-party logistics providers (3PLs). These are companies like mine, that offer warehouse-based supply chain management services to other businesses, across North America.

We are writing in regards to the House Budget Committee hearing, “State of the Highway
Trust Fund: Long-Term Solutions for Solvency.” The undersigned organizations urge Congress and the Administration to address the very serious financial situation of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF).